Who earns the most in France? Official stats and job listings reveal best-paying jobs

France is the world’s seventh-largest economy, with a projected GDP of $3.21 trillion (€2.74 trillion) in 2025, ranking third in Europe according to IMF estimates from April 2025, Euronews reported.

Residents across the country are seeking well-paid, high-quality employment opportunities.

France also remains one of the top destinations for immigrants—ranking behind Germany and Spain in total arrivals from both within and outside the EU, according to Eurostat. Whether highly skilled or not, newcomers are also in search of better job prospects and improved living standards.

So, what are the best-paying jobs in France? Which professions offer the highest salaries, and what are the average annual earnings for top jobs in France?

Euronews Business explores the highest-paying jobs in France, using two complementary sources that shed light on different dimensions of the labour market.

• The monthly average net salaries for 2023 from the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE) (They were converted to annual figures by multiplying the monthly values by 12). These figures cover private sector employees only and exclude those working in the public sector.
• Job postings from global hiring firm Indeed, covering annual gross earnings from May 2024 to April 2025.

Top earning sectors in France

• Five main sectors dominate the top 50 highest-paying jobs in France according to INSEE.
• Aviation leads all sectors with an average salary of €111,600, driven by highly specialised roles in civil aviation, in particular pilots.
• Corporate roles such as managers and directors have an average of €92,000, the highest among multi-role sectors.
• Healthcare follows with €84,600, including dental surgeons and non-hospital doctors.
• Legal and finance sectors also rank high, averaging over €70,000.